dying and his last wish is to give you life. Do you want to say no to him?" Fen's voice was soft, even gentle, but the muscles in his neck were corded with effort.
He too was feeling the weight of Odin's impending death. And yet he was instructing me to take Odin's last breath. I shook my head and was about to ask him why when he touched my cheek. His fingers felt cool against my fevered skin. "Bryn, your father is giving you a gift with his dying breath. How can you say no to him? It is his wish."
I blinked and turned my gaze to Odin whose gray eyes had grown pale. He gave me a small nod, "It is my wish, child." Then he swallowed hard and closed his eyes. I could feel his strength seeping into my body, filing my veins and my heart. It felt like I'd been dipped into a pool of heated honey.
The moment was filled with a beautiful combination of grief and bliss. The fighting around us had begun to subside and the ringing slowly faded from my ears.
Odin's eyelashes fluttered as he opened his eyes again. "It is done." Then he smiled. "Brynhildr, my child. In the coming days there will be many new things to experience. New gods, and a new chance at life. Much will change, but much will stay the same. Always remember that you are loved. And always remember to love."
After a short moment in which he stared up at the strange sky that seemed to reflect the gore of the battlefield, Odin met my eyes again. "We fought this all the way. We fought against destiny and we failed." He swallowed and shook his head as I opened my mouth to say that it was all pointless. "But we also fought against Loki, against his determination to win over us all. He tried to change fate according to his own wishes, while all we did was find a way to avoid committing unspeakable acts."
He turned his gaze to Fen. "My son. It is time. You know what you have to do."
Fen shook his head, his eyes glistening with tears as he stared at Odin's face. "I can't," he whispered. "How can you expect that of me?"
Odin shook his head, but the movement was so slight it looked like a twitch. "Would you rather see me suffer until I waste away and die, or would you see me die a glorious death on the battlefield of Ragnarok?" Odin took a breath that rattled inside his body.
I sat huddled beside him, unable to believe what he was asking Fen to do. Fen's sole purpose in life was to ensure he did not wield the hand of death over Odin at Ragnarok, but now the All-Father asked him to bring the predictions to reality.
"No," I whispered. "You can't ask him to kill you." But even as I said the words I couldn't deny how right Odin was. If Fen didn't kill him now, Odin would suffer until he took his last breath, maybe he'd linger for days while the poison ate at him.
When I looked up at Fen I saw the resignation in his eyes. He too had come to the same conclusion. He drew a short dagger from a sheath at his belt and turned to Odin. "Even if the world forever curses me as Odin's killer, I will do this for you because it is your wish." Fen's words hurt deep in my heart. I could already feel his grief.
"Thank you, Fenrir, son of Odin." With those words Odin let his head fall back and watched Fen as the light in his eyes began to fade even more. He still held my hand but now the grip was weak. I tightened my grip and put my cheek to the back of his hand, unable to stop my sobs.
I forced myself to watch as Fen placed the dagger against Odin's side, in the space between his breastplates. Tears slipped down his cheek as he plunged the dagger deep into Odin's body.
Odin gasped, then exhaled slowly.
And then he was gone, his dead eyes staring up at the pink sky.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
And Fen sank to the ground beside me, his head hanging while his hand still remained on the dagger. I placed my hand over his and said, "It's over."
Fen looked up at me. "I tried so hard to not be the one." There was a desperation and hopelessness in his